Page turner



Sept. 9, 1930. c. T. BURK HART 1, 7

PAGE TURNER Filed Dec. 1'7, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Q Q V I IUTJ IIIHIIHHTHIlITIHIIIIIIllHHHHIH LHIH HI ATTORNEY p 9, 1930- I c. T. BURKHART 1,775,551

PAGE TURNER Filed Dec. 17. 1927 3 SheetsSheet 2 4 ZK w. 3 7 4o 4 68 24 I l I till INVENTOR BY Mf.

ATTORNEY Sept. 9, 1930. c. T. BURKHART 1,775,551

PAGE TURNER Filed Dec. 17. 1927 3 SheetsSheet 3 INVENTOR Mg;

ATTORNEY STATE Patented Sept. 9, 1930 CLARENCEWT. BUR-KHART, F GHAMBEBSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA PAGE TURNER Application filed December 17, 1527. Serial No. 249,755.

This invention relatesto improvements in page 'turners and it consists n the construc- "tions, combinations and arrangements herein i described and claimed.

' An object of the invention is to provide an appliance to be used for the expeditious turning of the pages of a hook, and although thus broadly defined, the specificobject is to employ the appliance as a turner for pages of sheets of mus1c.

Another object of the invention, and one that naturall follows the forc oin" state ment,v is to use the appliance in connection with a variety of musical instruments and music racks so that the leaves of the been of music may be unerringly turned by the musician during the course of renderingthe selectlonh v I Other ob e'cts and advantages appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in Wl11Ci1,

' Figure 1 is a front elevation of the page turner as used in connection with a piano,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of an organ console illustrating the adaptation thereto of the music leaf turner,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the page turner the casing back beingshown in section,

v Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken sub stantially on the line 44 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section in a slightly lower planetaken substantially along the line 5,5 ofiFigure 1,

. lustrating one of the turner fingers.

-Those who have attended a considerable numberof renditions of musical compositions could not have avoided noting the almost invariable pause, and in some instances confusion, when theperiod for turning a music page over arrived. Itis'intended to relieve the embarrassment of the musician as well as the annoyance of his listeners by making possible the turning of a page immediately upon followingthe music to the end of the last page in view. For such purpose there has been devised a simple appliance which is not confined in use to either a piano or organ, as suggested in Figures 1 and 2, but may be used elsewhere.

Reference is made to the drawings in which the page turner is seen to comprise an elongated casing generaliv designated ,1. This casing comprises the front2, top 3, bottom a and back 5. The front, top. and bottom are, by preference composed of metallicplates respectively of increasing thickness as well illustrated in Figure 6. p The baclr5 is. composed of wood and is so proportioned thatthe upper edge projects above the top 3 in order to provide a ledge upon which the book B of music rests.

Both the bottom 4 and a sub-bottom 6 (Figs. 6 and 7) have end lugs respectively designated at Tand 8 in Figures 1 and The appearance of the lugs 7 is to be clearly noted in Figures 4 and 5. The lugs 8 underneath (not shown) are the Both pairs of lugs may he provided with holes 9 to admit screws by which the turner may be rigidly fixed upon the customary piano or organ ledge 11, but by preference the securing means will pass through the holes of the bottom lugs 8 only so that the following facility may be taken advantage of.

Hinges 12 (Figs. 6 and 7) connect the bottom 4 and sub-bottom 6 along one edge. 'A

thin board 13 of fibre or other suitable material is secured to the casing back 5. Instead of locating the turner casing 1 as far back upon the ledge Has it will go (see Figurefi) at which time the stops '14 engage the front edge of the cleat, the sub-bottom 6 may be mounted farther frontupon the ledge thus making it possible to tilt the turner casing 1 backwardlyupon the hinges 12, thus inclining the back board 13 at a more pronounced angle. This may be more to the advantage of the musician in reading the notes.

An appropriate padding applied to the sub-bottom 6 prevents marring of the fine piano finish. Although not so shown the back surfaces of the front stops 14 may be similarly padded. It may be noted that the stops 14 are formed as parts of the front plate 2. The latter has a plurality of slots 16 for the shanks of a plurality of keys designated 17, 18 and 19. The shanks are identified as 20, 21 and 22.

Fastening of the various casing plates to each other is accomplished by means of lower and upper pairs of U-clips 23 and 24 respectively, the former of which (Figs. 4 and 5) are shorter than the latter (Fig. The purpose of making the latter pairs longer is to somewhat increase the support of the top 2, the ends of which extend beyond the bottom 4 as plainly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The obvious use of rivets 25 or other securing means, completes the fastening of thevarious casing plates.

A plurality of turner fingers 25, 26 and 27 separate successive pages of the book 13 and Cause such pagesto be turned forwardly when the associated keys 17, 18 and 19 are depressed. A turner finger 28 serves to turn'all of the pages back as well as to reinstate the fingers 25, 26 and 27 to the original position when a trigger 29 is operated. For the purpose of distinction the fingers 25, 26 and 27 are known as forward turning fingers, while the finger 28 is known as the reversing or returning finger. q

The finger 25, as in the instance-of the fingers 26 and 27, is carried by an arm 30. Portions of the outer extremity of the arm are curled over at 31, (Fig. 10) to form the menu-- ings of a pivot pin 32 near thelower extremity of the turning finger. The arrangement is such that the lower extremity designated 33 in Figure 10, may bear against an edge of the arm 30. A fairly stiff leaf spring 34, secured at 35 to the finger 25 engages the arm 30 as shown in Figure 10 and provides a strut that firmly holds the finger 25 in the erect position.

Engagement of" the extended free end of the spring or strut 34 with the arm 30 prc vents falling over of the finger 25 in one direction while engagement of the lower 6X tremity 33 with the adjacent edge of the arm 30 prevents falling over of the finger in the opposite direction. Should it be desired to let the finger 25 down into the horizontal dotted line posit-ion in Figure 10 it is only necessary to press in upon the lower end of the strut 34 as at the arrow 36 and swing the finger over upon the pivot thereof.

In construction the finger 25, as well as the fingers 26 and-27. include a relatively long eye pm 37 as well as a rather delicate from the finger,'the purpose being to lightly I hold adjoining pages'of the book down prior to the turning operation. 7

A construction similar to that described in connection with the finger 25 obtains in the instance of the returning finger 28, the ex ceptions being that the eye pin 37 and holding spring 38 are omitted. The finger 28 is pivot ally mounted uponan arm 40. 'The' arms 30 and the fingers 25, 26 and'27 are secured to the square ends (Figs. 3 andv 7) of shafts 41. The arm 40 of the finger 28 is secured to the square end of a shaft 42. These various shafts pass through openings 43 in the top 3 (Fig. 8) openings 44 in a bracket 45 and restin the sockets 46 in the bottom 4. Theythus have adequate bearing.

Each of the shafts 41 carries a latch pin 47 (Figs. 4, 7 and 8) intended to rest against the shoulder 48 of a latch tooth 49 on the inner end of the co-acting key shank. The inner end of each key shank is turned up in hook shape as at 50 in Figure 7, this particular shape providing a passageway into which the latch pin moves prior to engage ment with the shoulder 48 for the purpose of holding the respective turning finger in the pre-turning position. The shanks 20, 2'1 and 22 are capable of independent turning upon a pivot shaft 51 and when so turned by depressionof the respective key, cause the raising of the tooth 49 (Fig. 7) and release of the'latch pin 47 so that the respective shaft 41 may turn.

The turning .ofeach shaft 41 is accomplished by a spring 52 (Fig. 8). One end of the spring is secured within a spring barrel the other end being secured to the bracket 45. The spring barrel is secured to the shaft 41 as at 54. A spring. 55 tends to hold the key shank against a tie rod 56 so that the hook 50 may occupy a position to properly receive the latch pin 47.

A mutilated ratchet 57 is fixed upon the shaft 41 (Fig. 8) in a position immediately above a gear 58. The gear 58 is loosely mount-- ed upon the shaft so that it may turn independently of the shaft when actuated by the engaging return rack 59. The rack carries the trigger 29, formerly alluded to, at one end. The teeth of the ratchet 57 extend approxiinately half way around the periphery as plainly shown in Figure 5. The teeth are thus out of range of the pawl 60 While the respective finger occupies the pre-turning position. A turning of the finger shaft 41 and ratchet 57 through approximately 180 in the clockwise direction will bring the ratchet within range of the pawl 60 (see Figure 5).

A subsequent push on the trigger-'29 in the direction of the arrow 61 will cause the simultaneous reverse turning of each of the shafts by reason of the fact that the pawls 60 have a ratchet tooth to operate upon. Each pawl .60 is pivotedat 62 to an enlarged tooth 63 of the associated gear. A spring 64, attached;

at one end tothe-rack 59 serves to return the rack when the triggerl29is released.v The opposite end of the spring is attached to one of a pair of end plates that are connected partly by the tie rod 56 and by the shaft 51 of the trigger shanks. I

Metallic clips 66 of substantial U-shape secured to the bottom 4, guide the rack 59.

The rack passesthrough openings 67 in the end plates. It may be explained that the trigger 29 is rigidly and permanently con- 4 nected to the rack59 so that a push on the trigger will result in of therack.

Spring clips 68 serve to holddown'jsuch pages of the book not intended to be turned.

lengthwise movement .These clips are appropriately attached to the back 5. A cord 69 is intended to extend over the medial line of the book as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and serve the particular purpose of holding any extra sheet of music M (Figure 1) that the musician may desire to refer to. The lower end of the cord. is secured to the book 5 while a ring at the upper end is applied to a hook 71- on the back board 13. Reference'is made to Figure 2 wherein the page turner is adapted to the console of an organ. In organs the music ledge 11 is often located rather high above the key board and organ controls and in order that the organist may not be required to reach too high for-the operation of the page turner the three key shanks 20, 21 and 22 are tension cords 72. p

' Balls 73 on the ends of the cords 72 permit a ready downward pull of the latter for the provided with exdepression of the connected key shank above. The cords are guided in the eyes 74 of a bracket afiixed to the front of the organ.

T he operation is readily understood. Upon reference to Figure 1 the reader can easily understand that the fingers 25, 26 and 27 are located hehind succeeding pages of the right side of the music book B, the object being to cause,

the turning of the succeeding pages as the musician completes the reading of the notes down to the end of the page on the right.

The foregoing turningof the pages is accomplished by successively depressing the keys 17, 18 and 19.7which, if preferred, may

be numbered 1, 2, and 3. Successive pressure on these keys will permit the swinging of the arms 30 in the clockwise direction (looking down upon the appliance) until they all assume the position in Figure 3. The 7 reader may suppose the.

turned with the fingers.

.Briefiy reviewing a part ofthe foregoing H description the action following the depres- Y sion of the key 19 (for-example) is this:

The reader must assume the associated finger.

. 27 to be in position at the right (Fig. 1) and 7 the latch pin 47 of the shaft 41 by which that Figure .5 up to this time.

. of the claims.- 7

finger is carried in position beneath the shoulder 48 of the tooth 49-as in Figure 6. Pressure on the key 19 raises the hook 50 to release the pin 47 whereupon the spring 52 (Fig. 8) turns the shaft 41 in the foregoing clockwise direction.

Such turning extends through approximately 180. The ratchet 57 beingsecured to the shaft 41 turns with the shaft.

end of this turning will find the first of the The teeth of the ratchet 57 in confronting posi tion with the pawl 60, these teeth having been at the side opposite to that shown in 7 The foregoing turning of the shaft 41 is not impeded by shaft. Any tendency of the gear to move by virtue of the turning of the shaft therein would be prevented by the rack 59.

- Assume now, that each of the keys has been depressed so that fingers 25, 26 and 27 occupy the position in Figure 3. The musi- "26wil1 serve to return some of the pages yet the finger 28 is relied upon to make sure of the returning action. I

In-order that the various arms may not conflict with ea ch other they are disposed in successively'higher planes as clearly shown in Figure 6. The various arms may swing above each other without striklngi In conclusion it may be observed that .the pawl and ratchet arrangement of the finger 28 is not entirely essential to the proper operation thereof. It is, of course. necessary to provide a fixed connection between the gear 58 and the returning shaft 42 so that the shaft 42 and its gear 58 turnas one and operation of the, rack 59n1ay cause the'dcsired turningof the shaft 42 with the other shafts upon'returning the pages. But inasmuch as there is no need of independent move ment of the shaft 42 in respect to the gear 58, as is the case of the shafts 41, there is no occasion for the slip-connection afforded by the ratchet and pawl. However, the. purpose is well served by adopting a uniform construcpages to have been I tlOIlZUlCl as a matter of fact the arrangement shown works out well in practice.

Thile the construction and arrangement of the improved page turner is that of a generally preferredform obviously modifications and changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit of. the invention or the scope 7 so the gear 58 because the latter is loose on the I claim V 1. An appliance of the character described comprising a pair of shafts each having an arm, a page-turning finger on one of the arms, a page returning finger on the other arm, gears respectively loose and fixed on the turning and returning finger shafts, a; pawl I 3 2. An appliance of the character described 1 comprising a pair of shafts each having an arm, a pageturning finger on one of the arms, a page returning finger on the other arm, gears respectively loose and fixed on the turning 'andreturning finger shafts, a pawl and ratchet device respectively carried by said turning finger shaft and the associated gear for revolution of the turning finger shaft independently of the associatedgear in one direction for a page-turning operation, and resilient means against the tension of which said gear and turning means is operated causing retraction of the gear turning means thus to restore the returning finger to an original position. I a

3. Anappliance of the character described comprising a shaft having an arm, a pageturning finger carried by the arm, a spring tending torevolve the shaft on the page-turning operation, a latch pin carried by the shaft,

a pivoted shank having a latch tooth with which the pin is engageable to hold the shaft, arm and finger against the tension of the spring, and a key for the depression 'of the shank and release of the tooth from the pin for revolution of the shaft on a page-turning operation.

4. An appliance of the character described comprising a shaft having an arm, a pageturning finger carried by the arm, a spring tending to revolve the shaft on the page-turning operation, a latch pin carried by the shaft, a pivoted shank being formed in hook shape to provide a passageway for the entrance of the pin and a latch tooth to be engaged by the pin and hold the shaft, arm and finger against the tension of the spring, and a key for the depression of the shank and displacement of the latch tooth for movement of the pin out of the passageway under tensionof the spring on a page-turning operation.

7 means to release the shaft causing the spring.

5. An appliance of the character described comprising a shaft having an arm, a pageturning finger carried by the arm, a spring tending to revolve the shaft in one direction,

' to'perform a page-turning operation, a gear loose on the shaft, a ratchet fixed on the shaft having toothed and blank portions, a dog on the gear in respect to which the blank portion rides upon. said release of the shaft bringing the tooth portion in proximity to the dog, and a rackto operate the gear and cause the dog to restore the shaft, arm and finger. r

6. An appliance of the character described comprising a tumor finger to be located behind a page at one side of a book, a returning finger to be stationed at the oposite side of the book, a spring to swing the turner finger in the direction of the opposite side of the book, a key having a latch arrangement for holding the spring under tension but being de pressible to causethe spring to swing said finger, and means common to both fingers being operable to simultaneously restore the turner finger and cause the returning finger to follow the page to the original position.

7 An appliance of the character described comprising a turner finger to be located behind a page at one side of the book, a returning finger to be stationed at the opposite side of the book, a spring to swing the turner finger in one direction toward said opposite side of the book, a key having a latch arrangement to hold the turner finger and spring being depressible for the release of the finger causing the spring to swing said finger, and rack and gear arrangements common to both fingers being operable to simultaneously swing both fingers in the opposite direction.

8. An appliance of the characterjdescribed comprising a casing, a shaft having bearing in the casing and projecting therefrom atone end, an arm attached to the projecting end and carrying 'a turner finger, a spring barrel carried by the shaft, a spring having the ends respectively attached to the casing and barrel, a latch pin on the shaft, and a depressible shank mounted in the casing projecting therefrom to permit depression, that portion of the shank within the casing having a latch tooth with which the latch pin is engageable to hold the spring under tension and the arm in a determined position. V

9. An appliance of the character described comprising a casing containing a bracket, a shaft having bearing in the bracket and casing from which casing one end of the shaft projects, an arm on the projecting end having a turner finger, a spring barrel attached to the shaft, a spring having the ends respectively secured to the barrel and bracket, a latch pin on the shaft, a key shaft pivoted inthe casing having a latch tooth engaging the pin to hold the spring under tension being depressible to release the pin and cause the revolution of the shaft in one direction, and a rack and gear arrangement associated with the shaft for returning the shaft to .the original position, said arrangement including a pawl carried by'the shaft the ratchet 7 being secured to the shaft beneath the bracket to prevent withdrawal of the shaft from the bearin s thereof.

10. Zn appliance of the character described comprising a casing containing a bracket, a shaft having bearing in the bracket and casing and projecting at one end from the casmg, an arm afiixed to said end carrying a turner finger, means to rotate'the shaft'first in one then in the opposite direction respectively to swing the finger to turn a page then to restore the finger, said means including a ratchet aflixed to the shaft beneath the bracket to hold the shaft in bearing position, a gear loose on the shaft beneath the ratchet said gear having an enlarged tooth, an engaging rack by which the gear is turned, and a pawl pivoted upon the enlarged tooth and being contactible with the ratchet.

11. An appliance of the character described comprising a casing containing a bracket, a turner finger-shaft having bearing in the casing and bracket, means to rotate the shaft in one direction, a gear loose on the shaft, a pawl pivoted on the gear, a ratchet aflixed to the shaft beneath the bracket to hold the shaft in said bearings said ratchet having a tooth and a blank portion riding over the pawl when the shaft is rotated in said direction at the end of which rotation the tooth is engageable by the pawl, and a rack for operating the gear causing the pawl and ratchet to rotate the shaft in the other direction.

12. An appliance of the character described comprising a casing including a back that projects slightly above the top of the casing to provide a book ledge, a back board secured to said back, and a sub-bottom hinged to the back for producing various relative adjust ments of the casing to the sub-bottom when the latter is applied to a rest.

13. An appliance of the character described comprising a casing includin a top, front, bottom and back said back pro ecting slightly above the top to rovide a book ledge, a board attached to the ack, lugs pendent from the front engageable with the front edge of a ledge upon which the appliance may be stood,

and a sub-bottom hinged to the back for producing varied angled adjustments of the easing and back when the casing is moved for- Wardly upon the ledge so that the lugs are stationed in advance of the edge of said ledge.

14. An appliance of the character described comprising a turner finger, an arm by which the finger is carried, a hinge connection between the finger and arm for swinging the finger to a reclining position, and means constituting a strut ordinarily sustaining the finger in an erect position.

15. An appliance of the character described comprising a turner finger having an eye pin and a leaf spring. for holding down book pages, an arm, a hinge so connecting the finger that the lower extremity of the finger swinging means, and means to operate the key shanks from a distance said means including extension cords attached to the shanks.

Signed at Chambersbur in the county of Franklin and State of fiennsylvania, this 13th day of December, A. D. 1927.

CLARENCE T. BURKHART. 

